Page 1 of Harper's Song

PROLOGUE

Ten Months Ago

Jax

The night is filled with the sweet, fluid tones of Harper’s guitar and the even sweeter sound of her voice, which always, without fail, reminds me of thousands of birds singing as the sun rises, in perfect harmony, creating the perfect symphony. I sometimes think I feel her music more than hear it. Feelherin it. Because she puts all of herself into her music.

The smells of at least a hundred people swaying to her song is a mixture of sweet and sour, overlaid with the tangy scent of the redwoods growing all around the clearing where she’s performing.

But somehow, even though I’m well shielded by the trees, I can still smell her over it all—that clear, clean scent of a fresh spring morning that clings to her skin and radiates off her no matter when and where and what season it is. I probably won’t get far without her. I am well aware of that. It changes nothing.

The stage lights are blindingly bright in the darkness of the forest, but it would take a lot more than that to make me look away from her beautiful face as she sings her songs, the expression on her face at once serene and enraptured. She loves this. She lives for this. And I would stare into the sun for eternity if it meant I’d get to look at her pretty face.

She can’t see me. I’m too far back from the stage, standing in complete darkness. But her eyes keep scanning the crowd like she’s looking for me. Or maybe I just want that to be true. Need it to be true. Even though it’s pointless.

Her father’s words left no doubt that I can only stay if I stay away from her.

She’s too innocent for the likes of you. And she’s going places. You’re not.

We kept our love a secret for a long time, because we both knew he’d never approve. And I didn’t tell her what he said to me. He’s right and she doesn’t need to know about it. I could stay and try to prove him wrong. Try to be the man who’s worthy of her. But who am I kidding? I’ve tried that. Tried hard for years. So now I know I’ll never be that man. Not in a million years. Rotten, that’s what I am. To the core. Going nowhere.

And if I stayed I’d only bring her down with me.

She disagrees. Says she can’t live and create her music without me. Says she needs me.

Not as much as I need her. I loved her long before she noticed. The day she finally said yes, gave herself to me, was the greatest day of my life. Bar none. Past, present, or future.

But it’s not fair to tie her to me. She’s not as innocent as her father would like to think, but my life and hers are heading in completely different directions.

And like I told her, songs of heartbreak and lost love are always the most beautiful ones.

She went berserk when I told her that. And I think there’s a hint of fear in her eyes as she scans the crowd, looking for me in the front row where I’d always usually stand.

But she’s stronger than she looks.

She’s stronger than me.

I’m heading nowhere. She’s heading everywhere.

The only thing I can really give her is freedom.

A life away from me and my bad influence.

And I will.

No matter how much it hurts.

1

Present Day

Harper

The sun is shining, it’s the start of a beautiful summer day and I have gigs booked for the next six months all over the country, give or take. Everything I could possibly need on my tour and more is packed into my station wagon and there’s still room enough for me to lie down and sleep in it if I have to. I’m ready.

But here’s my father, looking at me forlornly over his morning mug of coffee—a bright purple thing withDadspelled out in clumsy yellow letters along the side—his droopy eyes questioning my decision to go on the road even worse than his words are.

“Do you really have to go alone?” he asks in a hoarse voice.

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